When you’re getting started, and you don’t have the sponsors, endorsements, ads, or following to generate an income from vlogging, you might not have the capital to invest in fancy vlogging gear.

Guess what? That’s ok!

Today, we’re going to talk vlogging on a budget. Let’s take a look at how all of you can-be vloggers out there can leverage your already existing equipment and lighting, and grab the essentials for little-to-no money.

So, you may have to hold off on some of your more exciting content at first. If your channel is going to be heavily focused on the type of content, you may have to put forward a little more money at first to get the type of camera that you need.

Microphone

Sure, your phone’s camera is probably good enough to record video, but, when it comes to sound, your phone’s microphone isn’t going to cut it.

The quality of built-in phone or camera microphones is usually very poor, and they will pick up wind, background noise, and other noise pollution that you probably don’t want littering the audio quality of your vlogs.

First, you’ll be restricted to recording video during the day so this may not work you the night owls out there.

Second, your videos lighting may not be consistent. This is especially true if you live somewhere that has variable weather.

Lastly, you’ll have to consider that your equipment (desk, camera, etc.) will have to be set up near a window to take advantage of its light.

Editing Software

When you’re starting out, you can definitely take advantage of all of the free editing software out there.

If you’re running OSS (Mac), you can use Apple iMovie, which is included on all Mac computers. Blender is another excellent option for those that want something a little more in-depth. Alternatively, you can check out this post from Tom’s Guide that highlights some of the best free editing software for Mac users.

If you’re running Windows, you can use Blender, Lightworks, or Shotcut. Windows operating system doesn’t come with any (good) editing software built in, so you’ll probably have to download something.

The critical thing to remember when it comes to editing software is that you need to pick something that will do everything you need it to do. So, it’s better to start with a more complex software if you feel that you’ll eventually need it. Learning to use editing software takes a while, and they’re all different.

Once you have some additional capital, you can consider upgrading to Adobe software.

Conclusion

You don’t have to have a booming savings account to start vlogging, and you can probably get all of the equipment that you need for around $20 (the microphone.)

The most important part is that you get started, and you start putting out quality content. Don’t let money stop you from achieving your dreams.

As you can see, being on a budget isn’t an excuse to put off your vlogging channel.